362 Recapitulation. [Ess. x. As these prophecies, were, in general, understood by the ancient Jews to relate to a person whom they denominated the Messiah, and whose coming in temporal glory they fondly expected, so the New Testament affords abundant evidence that he of whom they testify is indeed the Messiah, the anointed one of God -the Lord Jesus Christ; and their accomplishment properly belongs to that division of his revealed history, which commenced when he ascended into heaven, and was enthroned in glory at the right hand of the Father. In tracing the light which is reflected from the scriptural account of the Messiah's reign of glory, on the offices, character, and nature, of Christ himself, we observe, in the first place, that God governs his people through Christ, and that Jesus, the King of Israel, the Mediator between God and man, is subject to the Father, from whom alone his dominion is derived. This statement is in full accordance with the explicit doctrine of Scripture, that the risen and ascended Jesus is man, the glorified brother, and sympathising master and friend of his unworthy followers. On the other hand, the reign of Jesus Christ is, in various respects, of such a description, that the impartial inquirer after scriptural truth is constrained to confess, that this "king of glory," by whom it is conducted, is not only man, but GOD. For, in the first place, as the Heir and legitimate Possessor of all things, he reigns without control, not only over the church, which he has himself" builded,” but over all the creatures of God. And, secondly, his dominion is not earthly, but divine: it is conducted by a celestial and invisible agency, and, as far as relates to mankind, consists in a moral and spiritual government over their souls. Ess. x.] Recapitulation. 363 More particularly, Jesus Christ, in his reign, is the Author of grace. He supplies all the need of the souls of his people. He forgives, converts, regenerates, and sanctifies them. He bestows those various spiritual endowments, which, under his authority and guidance, his servants exercise for the establishment, maintenance, and edification of the church. He not only wrought the miracles of his apostles, but inspired their doctrine. With perfect wisdom, justice, and love, he orders the external circumstances of his own people; and even the universe is subject to his providence; for, as on the one hand, all things were created by him, so, on the other hand, by him all things consist. Lastly, we learn at once, from the recorded example, and from the inspired doctrine of his primitive disciples, that Jesus Christ in his reign, is a proper object of prayer, glorification, religious affiance, and unqualified dedication of heart. The plain evidence of the divinity of Christ, afforded us by this scriptural view of his kingdom, is amply confirmed by the comparison of the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament ascribes exclusively to God those various attributes, offices, and honours, which the evangelists and apostles as plainly attribute to Jesus Christ in his reign. And since divine truth is uniform and unchangeable, it follows that Jesus Christ, in his reign, is GOD. In the accounts given by the sacred writers of that glorious æra of the reign of the Messiah, which is appointed for the final and universal judgment of men, Jesus is still represented as the Mediator, who receives his authority from the Father; and it is declared, that all judgment is committed unto him, because he is the Son of Man. Nevertheless, when, at that solemn crisis, he changes the quick, and raises to life the dead, of all generations-when he folds up the heavens and 364 Termination [Ess. x earth as a vesture-when he detects the secrets of all hearts-when he dispenses eternal rewards and punishments, (and all these acts are foretold in Scripture as the acts of our Redeemer) then will he again display the characteristic attributes, and perform the acknowledged works of deity; and thus it shall once more be demonstrated that Jesus, the king of glory, is truly God. Lastly, all reasonable doubt of the truth of that doctrine is completely set at rest by the plain testimonies of Scripture, whether incidental or direct, that the Messiah, in his reign, is "Jehovah our righteousness,"—" God,"-" the True God,"-" both Christ and God,"-" our Great God and Saviour,”—“ God, blessed for ever." And now, in closing our remarks on this extensive subject, it may be well for us briefly to advert to a well-known scriptural statement respecting the termination of that vast scheme of divine mercy and providence, which revelation has unfolded to us, and of which Christ, in his mediatorial capacity, is the appointed conductor: "As in Adam all die," says the apostle Paul to the Corinthians, "even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order, Christ the first fruits, afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he shall have put down (or subdued) all rule, and all authority, and power. For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet..... But when he saith, All things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued under him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all:"1 Cor. xv, 22-28. The Mediator, Jesus Christ, uniting in his own Ess. x.] of the Christian Economy. 365 person the human with the divine nature, exercises, as has been already observed, a derived dominion over all the creatures of God; and in this capacity he must continue to reign until all his enemies are destroyed: "The Lord said unto my Lord," cried David, "Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool:" Ps. cx, 1. The last enemy which shall be destroyed is death: and death will be destroyed when all men shall be raised or changed, and shall thus become incorruptible and immortal. When this mighty event has taken place, and when the retributive purposes of the Almighty are effected, there will be an end-a full conclusion and accomplishment--of that economical dispensation which is committed in trust to the Messiah; and he, who throughout the various stages of his mediatorial agency, was always subject to the Father who "put all things under him," will confirm and make manifest that subjection in the sight of the universe, when he delivers up his kingdom to him from whom he received it. But, although the mediatorial economy, and that vice-regal authority of the Messiah, which forms an essential part of it, will thus be brought to its conclusion, let it always be remembered, that "Jesus Christ is THE SAME yesterday, and to-day, and FOR EVER :" Heb. xiii, 8. He will never lose his distinctive character, as the Lamb of God-the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world-the Saviour and Redeemer of his people. When, under the figure of the New Jerusalem, the apostle John, in the Revelation, depicts the glorified condition of the church of Christ after the great day of final retribution, he says, "I saw no temple therein; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is 366 Reign of Christ Eternal. [Ess. x. the light thereof:" Rev, xxi, 22, 23. Again, it was "out of the throne of God, and of the Lamb," that he then beheld proceeding, "a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal. And there shall be no more curse," says the apostle, "but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him :" xxii, 1—3. Lastly, as Christ is himself unchangeable and eternal-unchangeable and eternal also, in the largest and most important respects, is his reign in glory. His dominion is an "everlasting dominion," which "shall not be destroyed:" it is "established for ever:" it shall have "no end" Dan. vii, 14; Luke i, 33. When we regard our Saviour in his human nature, we may rest assured that the immortal Son of David will never lose the reward of his sufferings, nor resign his authority over that church universal which he has purchased with his own blood, But, in a far more exalted sense, Jesus Christ will reign for ever, as he is God. The Son or Word of the Father, by whom all things were created "that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible," cannot cease to retain an uncontrolled dominion over the works of his own hands. In perfect oneness with the Father, and with the Holy Spirit, he will, to all eternity, reign over the universe, and dispense to the innumerable company of saints and angels, by whom his throne is surrounded, the unsearchable riches of his wisdom, his power, and his love. Thus shall the one true and living Godthe eternal ELOHIM-be ALL IN ALL FOR EVER. While I can say with truth, that I have not, in the course of the Essay which I am now concluding, cited a single passage either in proof, or in support, of the doctrine of the deity of Christ, which I do not consci |